Modernizing the Federal Statistical System

The purpose of this project is to facilitate the development of options for strengthening the federal statistical system in the current policy environment. The steering group, which includes Bill Beach, Erica Groshen, Nancy Potok, Shelly Martinez, Jen Park, Steve Pierson, and Michelle Crosby (Connie Citro is consulting for the project), plans to host three meetings and produce a thought paper to ground broad discourse and advise on the strategic implementation of a structure suited to the needs of a 21st century federal statistical system.

The project held its first meeting on June 24th. The objective was to frame discussions about the optimal structure for a 21st century federal statistical system. To encourage agile, informed, and candid conversation, a small number of individuals deeply invested in the production and use of federal data were invited. As a courtesy, invitees did not include current federal staff. A document prepared in advance of the June 24 meeting is available here and the June 24 attendees list, here. A high-level summary of the meeting is available here.

A second meeting has been scheduled for August 19th. The objective of this second meeting is to identify data user needs and their relationship to a modern, user-driven federal statistical system (FSS) in light of the current policy environment. Attendees to this closed meeting will be primarily individuals in the private and state sectors who are engaged consumers of federal data products. Meeting outcome materials will be posted on the ASA website.

As with the first two meetings, the third meeting will rely on broad engagement for the success of the project. If funded, the period of activity for this project is June-October 2025.

For more information, contact ASA Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson and stay tuned to this site for updates and calls for input as the project advances.